Powder dispenser



p 1957 c. E. BIENIOSEK ET AL 2,807,508

POWDER DISPENSER Filed May 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQRS CHESTER E.B|EN|0SEK EDWARD F. KURZINSKI ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1957 c. E. BIENIOSEK ETAL ,8

POWDER DISPENSER 4 Filed May 3, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHESTER E.BIEN|OSEK EDWARD F. KURZINSKI v TTORNEY United States Patent '0 POWDER DISPENSER Chester E. Bieniosek, Jersey City, and Edward F. Kurzinski, Cranfo'rd, N. J., assignorsto UnionCarhid'e Corporation, a corporation of New York Application May 3, -1954,-Seri'al No.-427,3'07

Claims. (Cl. 302'57) The present invention relates to powder dispensers and, more particularly, to powder dispensers employed for introducing gas-borne powders into molten metal to accomplish metallurgical treatment of the metal.

It has long been desired to provide a suitable dispenser for introducing gas-borne powders into molten metals to accomplish meta'llllrgical treatment of the metal, such as desulphurization and upgrading cast irons, and'the like. It has long 'been known that, for such operations, a dispenser working on entirely pneumatic principles ofiers greater advantages than dispensers working on mechanical or vibratory principles. g

Additionally, it has-been found that the followin char: acteristics are required of -a pneumatic dispenser for introducing gas-borne powders into molten metals for metallurgical treatment: simple and dependable in operation, a consistent flow of powders, controllable flow rates in a wide range, a high powder-to-gas ratio in the gas-borne powder mixture, the ability to dispense various powders and powder mixtures, provision for gas flow with or without fluidized powder flow, and the elimination of electrical controls.

Prior powder dispensers for dispensing gas-borne powders do not possess these characteristics to a degree where they may be efiiciently employed for the introduction of gas-borne powders into molten metal to accomplish metallurgical treatment of such metal.

Accordingly, it is the main object of the present invention to provide a dispenser, possessing all of the aboveenumerated characteristics, which may be efliciently employed for the introduction of gas-borne powders into molten metals to accomplish metallurgical treatment of such metals.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and a pended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front 'elevational view of a dispenser embodying the invention, portions of the outer casing having been broken away to show inner construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of Fig. 1, portions of the outer casing having been broken away to show inner construction; a

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser of Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the dis enser of Fig 1-3, taken through and showing the construction of the powder injector valve housing.

In accordance with the invention, and referring to the drawings, a dispenser .10 is provided having a closed container 12 for storing a supply of comnlinuted solid powders therein. Container 12 is supported by legs 14 and provided with a removable cover 16 secured to the body of the container by lock screws 18. A safety valve 20 is provided in cover 16 and serves to discharge gas from container 12 whenever the pressure therein exceeds 2 aprede'termined value. The lower or base portion "22 of container "1 2 is provided with ejector valve means 24 and this lowe-rportionis conical in shape so that powder will flow down and easily-feed into the ejector valve means.

As shown in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings, ejector valve means '24 comprises a hollow stationary outer 'rnernher '26 secured to the lower portion of container 12, a hollow rotatable inner m'ernber '28 axially aligned with and rotatable in outer inernb'er 2.6, each of said outer and inner members havinga plurality of radial ports, 30 and 32 respectively, passing 'the'rethrough and positioned so that said ports of said outer and inner valve members may be aligned to form passages 34 communicating betw theint'erior of container "12 and the interior manner 36 of iiine'rvalve i'n'er'nber'28; By rotating inner valve meniber 28 with respect to outer valve member 26, ports 30 and 32 may be brought into either alignment or disalig'n-' ment to respectively open or close ejector valve 24am, consequently, control the now of gas-borne powder froth dispenser 10. A I

Entraining gas conduit means 38 is provided to receive gas. A quick acting valve 40 is 'p'rovidedthrough which gas passes to a 'jilnctio'l'l'point 42 from which one conduit 44 runs into container lzfof dispenser 10 to ejector valve 24, and another conduit '46 runs to a regulator 48.- 4

An ejector nozzle 50 is provided in ejectorvalve One end of nozzle 50 'iscon'n'ected to conduit 44 and the other end 'dischar'ges eiitraining gas into chamber 36 of innerval've member 28. In this manner, when passages 54 are open, commin'uted solid materialis free to pass into hamb'e'r 3'6 otinner valve member 28 and become en trained in the gas stream. Outlet conduit rneanssz is secured to the lowerend of inner valve member 28 and serves to carry the gas b'orne powder stream from dispenser ltl to the point of intended use. a

The gas passing through regulator '48 is introduced through conduit "54 into the upper portion of container 12 and serves to maintain the interior of container 12 at a regulated gas pressure. Conduit 56 is provided and leads from the interior of container 12 to gauge '58 to indieate'the pressure in the interior of container 12. Gauge 601s connected to the outlet chamber'o'f regulator 48 and is provided to indicate the regulated line inert gas pres- Sure to container 12.-

In the ejn'lbodiment'shown in the drawings, regulator 48 and all valves and conduits are mounted in close proximity on the side walls of the dispenser and are covered by housing "62. A second housing 64 extends down from housing 62 and protects the valve control means 66. Such means comprises aprojee'tion 68, secured to inner valve member 28 and rotatable therewith, a rotata'b'le handle 70 positioned at the upper end of the dispenser andprojecting above housing 62, and a connectlug-rod 72 for transmitting the rotary motion of handle 70to a rotary motion of projection 68, thereby accofnplishing the rotation of inner valve member 28.

It has been found that the dispenser of the present invention may easily be operated to dispense a gas-borne powder stream having the desired high pOWder-to-gas ratio. By varying the regulated gaspressure maintained in the interior of the container the powder flow rate may be readily controlled. This method of securing the do sired powder flow'rate and powder-'to-gas ratio in the gasborne powder stream is described and claimed in detail in cope'nding patentapplication Serial No. 427,308, entitled Method of Injecting Fluidized Powders for Metal lurgical Treatment andfiled concurrently herewith.

It is one of theouts'tanding advantages of the dispenser of the present invention that, by the easy rotary motion of the ejector valve, the powder supply may be stopped without interrupting the flow of gas through the dispenser.- Similarly, due to the ejector valve arrangement and the undisturbed gas flow, no powder is left in the valve or outlet line when the powder flow is stopped.

It has been found that these features are very important in a dispenser to be used for providing a fluidized powder stream for introduction into molten metal to accomplish metallurgical treatment of the metal. For example, calcium carbide powders have been entrained into a stream of inert gas and introduced into molten iron to accomplish: desulphurization. In metallurgical operations such as this, it is a known procedure to introduce a fluidized powder into the molten metal through an injection tube of refractory material, such as graphite or the like. It is always necessary to maintain a gas flow through such. injection tube at all times (even when powder is not to be introduced) to prevent a head of molten metal from backing up within the tube where it may cool and block off the tube. The dispenser of the present invention readily. permits the maintenance of gas flow through the outlet conduit to an injection tube even when the flow of powder is interrupted by the closing of the powder ejector valve. It similarly provides against the collection of powder in the outlet conduit, after the interruption of the powder supply, due to the continued flow of gas through the dispenser and outlet conduit.

Any gas or mixtures thereof may be employed as the pressurizing and the entraining gas as long as it is inert to the powder and the molten metal to be treated. Nitrogen, argon and the like have been found eminently suitable for such purposes.

The dispenser of the present invention has been successfully employed to introduce gas-borne powders into molten metals to accomplish many kinds of metallurgical treatments. In one instance, a dispenser of the type shown in the drawings, having an ejector valve unit with a 0.0465 inch 1. D. nozzle, six radial power passages of 0.25 inch diameter, and a %-inch diameter inner throat, was employed with a 15 foot rubber outlet hose having an inside diameter of 0.5 inch. Powered calcium carbide was introduced through such dispenser and outlet increased to an even greater value by increasing the diameter of the ejector nozzle or the powder flow rate can be decreased below 0.7 pound per minute by decreasing the diameter of the ejector nozzle.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for dispensing a gas-borne'solid powder comprising a closed container adapted to hold a supply of powder; a powder ejector valve positioned at the internal base of said container, said valve having a. stationary outer member secured to said container and a rotatable inner member axially aligned therewith and mounted therein, said inner and outer members each having radial ports passing therethrough and positioned so that said ports of said inner and outer members may be aligned to form passages communicating between the interior of said container and the interior of said inner valve member; means associated with said container for introducing gas to pressurize the interior of said container to a desired regulated pressure; conduit means passing through the interior of said container and said outer valve member for introducing a high velocity stream of entraining gas into the interior of said inner valve member; outlet conduit means associated with said inner valve member for conveying the gas-borne powder from said dispenser; and means positioned externally of said container. and associated with said inner valve member for rotating said inner valve member with respect to said outer valve member to control the flow of powder from said container to said inner member of said powder ejector valve.

2. Apparatus for dispensing a gas-borne solid powder comprising a closed container adapted to hold a supply of powder; means associated with said container for maintaining the interior of said container at a controllable regulated pressure; a powder ejector valve positioned at the internal base of said container, said valve having a stationary outer member secured to said container and a rotatable inner member axially aligned therewith and mounted therein, said inner and outer members each having radial ports passing therethrough and positioned so that said ports of said inner and outer members may be aligned to form passages for the flow of powder under said controllable regulated presure from the interior of said container to the interior of said inner valve memher; a gas nozzle member positioned to discharge into said interior of said inner valve member; conduit means passing through the interior of said container, said outer valve member and terminating at said gas nozzle member for introducing a high velocity stream of entraining gas into the interior of said inner valve member; outlet conduit means associated with said inner valve member for con veying the resulting gas-borne powder from said dispenser; and means positioned externally of said container and associated with said inner valve member for rotating said inner valve member with respect to said outer valve member to control the flow of powder from said container to said inner member of said powder ejector valve.

3. Apparatus for dispensing a gas-borne solid powder in accordance with claim 2, wherein said closed container tapers inwardly in the region of said base for more cilicient and continuous flow of said powder to said ejector valve.

4. Apparatus for dispensing a gas-borne solid powder comprising, in combination, a closed container having a removable cover and adapted to hold a supply of said powder, said container tapering inwardly in the region of its base for the more etlicient and continuous flow of powder thereto; means, including a regulator, for maintaining the interior of said closed container at a control]- able regulated pressure; a powder ejector valve positioned at the internal base of said container, said valvc having a stationary outer member secured to said container. and a rotatable inner member. axially aligned there- Withand mounted therein, said inner and outer members each having radial ports passing therethrough and positioned so that said ports of said inner and outer members may be aligned to form passages for the flow of powder under said controllable regulated pressure from the interior of said container to the interior of said inner valve member; gas conduit means passing from a supply of gas under pressure into said container and ejector valve and terminating in a gas nozzle positioned to discharge a high velocity stream of entraining gas into said interior of said inner valve member; outlet conduit means associated with said inner valve member for con veying the resulting gas-borne powder from said dispenser; and means positioned externally of said container and associated with said inner valve member for rotating said inner valve member with respect to said outer valve member to control the flow of powder from said container to said inner member of said powder. ejector valve.

5. In a powder dispenser, a powder ejector valve positioned at the internal base thereof, said valve having a stationary outer member secured thereto and a rotatable inner member axially aligned with and mounted in said outer member, said members each having radial ports passing therethrough and positioned so that said ports of said members may be aligned to form passages communicating between the exterior of said outer member and the interior of said inner member for the passage of powder through said ejector valve; conduit means passing through said outer member for introducing a high velocity stream of entraining gas into the interior of said inner valve member; outlet conduit means associated with said inner valve member for conveying gas-borne powder from said powder ejector valve; and means positioned externally of said ejector valve and associated with said inner valve member for rotating said inner valve member with respect to said outer valve member to control the flow of powder through said powder ejector valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sticker Apr. 26, Boland May 24, Nichols Feb. 2, Hull Mar. 4, Anderson Nov. 7, Thompson Jan. 2, Lanborn Oct. 4, Bozich Mar. 14, Meincke Oct. 10, Egger Nov. 21, La Pota Aug. 26, 

